That’s not the point… it’s cheap plastic, and is perhaps the one item throughout the entire cabin that probably needs to be reinforced for toughness. Guess two little screws is their definition of tough. It just snapped. Probably got hit, but it’s the core part that should be assumed to be hit / bumped / pressured, etc. The video also demonstrates the entire piece in general. Speaks to those who complain about all of the plastic squeaks with the slightest press of your hand over the last several years. I made comment about it years ago myself when I sat in the EQS when it first came out.

you can fix anything. The point is - it broke in the cheapest of manner. Just like our door switches in the back. A switch wears out, fine, that’s fair. But for the whole thing to just break loose, is pretty damn cheap!

 

I'm curious why you feel that way about the X7? We owned a 2020 40i for almost 5 years and it was a pretty solid family car. I drove it quite extensively and had no issues in terms of reliability and the B58 engine that BMW uses is one of the most bulletproof inline 6 you can get on the market right now. My only gripes were that the engine was a bit underwhelming power wise for the size of the vehicle but I would think the V8 would solve most of those issues. I'm thinking of leasing a GLS450 or X7 M60i once the time comes, but heavily leaning more towards the BMW since X7 M60i's here are basically the price of a GLS450 now, not to mention MB lease rates are 6.49% on a GLS while X7's are leasing for 0.99%. I also felt like the X7 platform in general does a better job of hiding how large it drives compared to the Mercedes GLS and drives better, whereas the GLS has more of a luxurious ride? I'm just curious to hear about your experience with both of these vehicles.

 

I agree w/ @S_W222 that the GLS makes for a better family car than the X7. If price is the same and you use the 3rd row a lot (as I do), then you are overpaying on the X7 for less passenger space and less trunk space w/the 3rd row up. As a matter of fact, the X7 has way more in common size-wise to the Q7, which is a less expensive alternative and not much smaller:
https://www.edmunds.com/car-comparis...=402081886|suv

Edmunds didn't have it but according to Car and Driver, the trunk space is only 12.8 ft3 on the X7 and even smaller than the Q7's 14.2 ft3 w/the 3rd row up (the GLS has 17.4 ft3)!
https://www.caranddriver.com/bmw/x7/...x7_bmw-x7_2026

Of course, none of this matters if the car doesn't get much family duty. In that case, the X7 is the "fun car"!

Edit: Just noticed you were comparing the M60i against the GLS450. Shouldn't you be cross-shopping against the GLS580?

 

My pick is also the X167 GLS for space alone. Even just comparing V167 GLE to X5, the latter has less rear passenger seat room as well. For some reason bmw's competitor always has less room than MB's models.

 

My point is this isn't unique to Mercedes. All cars are built with the same cheap plastic that can break. I had the consoles of my LS460s apart in the same way and they are constructed in exactly the same way. It just is what it is.

For me its all about space. The GLS is much larger inside and the X7 is just too tight for it to be my choice for family use.

If I were getting a car for me to primarily drive and to pinch hit for family use sometimes then the X7 would rise much higher on the list.

 

If I have to drive/own a BMW, It needs to be the V8. That's the whole idea of a "BMW" car/SUV, at least to me. The 40i drivetrain is EXCELLENT! However, if I have to get an inline-6, I'd rather be in the GLS then. inline-6 means a subtle nice quite ride with family, and the Benz just like most models is the right car for that purpose (at least to me). It's larger, more comfy for straight lines, and more versatile. The X7 40i is a great car, but in my view, the only X7 that is better than the GLS is the X7 M50 or M60 because of how it drives in-town as a daily. If it's a 40i or inline-6 as a family SUV instead of my own daily ride, then GLS 450 is the clear winner.

The X7 M60 is not at the price of a GLS450, at least not when the cabin and options are similar. X7 M60 is more expensive. There is close to 20K difference in price. I would not compare the X7 M60 to the GLS 450. They don't drive the same, they have different purposes or use-cases, and the price is different. I'd take the M60 ALL DAY LONG over the GLS 580 if the drivetrain performance was my target. It drives so much better in-town, and frankly, the tech in the X7 is at least 5-years ahead of the GLS. Much better daily. If you are fine with the size of the car, I think you'll be very happy with X7 M60 especially if you are only going to keep it for 2-3 years. The only time I was able to justify going with the GLS over the X7 is when we decided that my wife wants to drive the SUV not me, amd that it will be our family long-trip luxury vehicle, hence the 450 is an ideal choice. Very comfy on staright roads again, can pull a trailer or boat, and carry a ton more items than the X7. The 3rd row seat in the GLS can also take adults. As for the lease question, I am not sure about lease rates; so can't help you here.. I just don't care at all about paying interest for loans or the hidden/equivalent interest in lease. I buy what I can afford in cash, and just that, and then deduct it for business use whenever I can or it makes sense. Not an advice, but just sharing my own personal financial strategy since you asked me.

 

Yeah. Another thing I usually share with friends/users who ask me is: Don't let the leg-room or published numbers deceive you. They look very impressive on paper for the X7, but as far as actual usage, there is a ton more 2nd row and 3rd row leg-room and cabin space in the GLS compared to the X7 once i position my driver seat to a comfy position. It feels like the X7 numbers are virtually exaggerated by assuming the front seats are adjusted a but too forward though I know there are standards for that. The accelerator and brake pedal and foot cavity in the X7 is way too close to the driver seat that forces the driver to push the seat backward. It is the complete opposite in the GLS. That footwell space is really deep and my seat position in the GLS is closer to the dash than in my former X7s, leaving a lot of room for 2nd row and then same for 3rd row. The published leg-room numbers are very deceiving.

 

Yes, and let's just remember: The X7 would not drive that good if it was bigger. The reason that the X7 drives almost like a sedan, and is soooooo much more fun as a daily, is because of it's conservative height and size. BMW designed it to drive like a BMW and there is a reason it took them until 2019 to finally come up with a true 3-row SUV of that size. The GLS is a better family car because if it's size and versatility, and it drives like a Mercedes, which is what people usually want for a family ride. Both SUVs are great, and I hope neither BMW or Mbenz will change their philosophy for these 2 SUVs. That gives us as consumers 2 excellent yet different/district SUVs to choose from.

 

Interesting. IMO the B58 is a smoother and more enjoyable engine than the MB I6. Honestly I don't think I would get the V8 in either vehicle.

 

Maybe I wasn't clear or my point was confusing. If I can still get the GLS with the B58 and ZF (which is obviously impossible), yes I'd get that over the M256 for sure. My point was, if I need a family SUV, then I prefer the inline-6 regardless. Hence, If I know that I need the inline-6, the GLS chassis and cabin is the right one so it just happens that it's the 450 regardless... but it doesn't mean that I like the M256 as an independent drivetrain more than the B58. I do believe the B58 and ZF 8HP combo in the X7 40i is a better "drivetrain", although it "feels' less powerful although on paper the are similar.

The upcoming X7 gen will certainly on our list for 2027 model years. The smaller cabin is an issue, but if the tech gap continues to grow (which is already too large), I wouldn't mind the X7. The new gen predicts that the size will grow a tiny bit.

 

I'd still choose a B58 X7 over a GLS450 for a daily driver for myself thats going to pinch hit as a family vehicle.

 

Exactly! MB is no different in build quality than any other manufacturer. Mazda, VW, Ford, Chevy, Jeep, etc... In fact, I'd argue that when it comes to interior quality - they're at par with all of them now (instead of superior), and subpar to a few. Yes, they look very nice, beautiful in fact, but beauty is only skin deep. But stuff like this gives some credit to the knock-off's of Kia / Hyundai, who clearly mimic Mercedes and BMW pretty heavily in some key design aspects.

 

Honestly it only ever has been on another level in your mind. Older Mercedes had plenty of interior materials that were cheap and crappy and broke etc. Its an imagined comparison.

For a long, long time when I drove Lexus cars I would sit in a Mercedes and wonder what the fuss was all about. They were just not very nice.

 

Your point has validity, outside of your mind.
In other words, your point is valid in reality.

 

To be honest when I was cross shopping the two in Canada, the best cash price I got on the GLS 450 was around 148k in Edmonton and it wasn't that well optioned either. If I was to go for something more well optioned it would be pushing the 155k-160k mark. Contrast that with a pretty fully loaded X7 M60i for 154k (it was a 2026 being heavily discounted as it's been sitting for months at this point). A few other BMW dealers I talked to were basically giving discounts on the 60i's anywhere from $6000-$15000. Most MB dealers weren't budging at all on their pricing for the GLS. Hence for me the price point between the two vehicles isn't that far off once you factor that in, but this probably varies depending on where you are.

Hopefully this changes in the future with MB dealers here as I agree with the rest of your points about it being a better family hauler. The ride on the GLS is more plush and it is a roomier cabin compared to the X7. With the third row up, the X7's cargo room is laughable. I basically drove it with the 3rd row down 98% of the time, and moved the rear seats back a bit just to have more space in the 2nd row. Maybe I might just cough up the extra money and go with the GLS 580 when the time comes since I do prefer a bit more power and the V8 over the I6. My family has also had 5 BMW's within the past few years at this point and we're looking for something different for our next car.

 

Not a chance in my mind....

1999, dad bought a 1985 500 SEL that had been imported from Italy by the original owner, who was selling it. Car lived in KC until 2006 when he moved it to Naples Fl for retirement. Sold it in 2013 to someone who wanted to bring it back with him to Italy. That interior was as stout and every single switch, stitch, hinge, buzzer, dial, speaker, panel, etc... was as solid in 2013 as it was in 1985. Thing was a true tank.

Old coworker in Newport Beach, bought a 1994 420 SEL (I think 420, been a long time). He still drives it to this very day as his daily driver. Thing has god only knows how many hundreds of thousands of miles. Refuses to get rid of it because it's been indestructible (beyond the routine, expected stuff). Last I was in it, 2010, and it was like a German limo tank. Same kind of design (whatever era that was) that Princess Diana was killed in.

My old boss in NC, still drives his 1998 E320 with no complaints. Granted, he had to fix the known hvac issue in the dash once, but no split seats, no broken switch gear, no squeaks or rattles.

Guy in my current office had a mid-2000's Chrysler-era E until last year. Replaced with one of those current GLE coupe things. Complains it's nothing like his old E was in terms of Mercedes quality of feel. He only got rid of the E because the engine finally gave out around 400k miles, otherwise had zero complaints.

My 2014 E, was on that same level, which is why I loved it and put up with some expensive mechanical repairs, but on the inside, it was solid. No rattles, no squeaking plastics, no broken switch gear. I will admit, the infamous splitting MBTex issue. The stereo alone was levels above the one in our GLS (standard).

I'm sorry, but I do not agree that it's all in my head. I don't think there is a MB made in the last 5 years that will be roaming the earth in 2050. That's fine, nothing is built to last anymore. Just know that MB isn't as "special" as it used to be in the automotive world, other than the mental aspect of the ego stroke in having one.

 

Those are very old cars, all cars were built better back then. Compare a mid 90s LS400 which I know you had to one built today, there is absolutely no comparison in terms of quality. Compare that mid 90s LS400 to anything made by Mercedes at the time and it was superior in build quality. Even a mid 90s Toyota Camry was on the same level as a Mercedes or better. I just don't think Mercedes has really ever been dramatically better in terms of build quality compared to anything else outside of maybe 40 years ago. Mercedes cars have also gotten much cheaper since that time, that 1994 420SEL your friend has was a much more expensive car adjusted for inflation than an S Class or GLS is today, that was an $85,000+ car fairly base in 1994...thats nearly $190,000 today, way more than a similar S Class.

I'm not saying you're wrong about the quality issues in a modern Mercedes I just don't think they are anywhere close to new issues, and I don't think they are any more major than what you see in any other manufacturer. I think this perceived gap between Mercedes and other manufacturers in the past wasn't really any different than it is today. Take that generation E Class you had, it had issues too, splitting MB Tex like you said, terribly fading wood trim was another issue, peeling buttons and switchgear were common and while they were well put together the interiors were very plasticky and were just unappealing IMO. Modern Mercedes may not be as well put together but IMO they are much more appealing to me as a consumer than they ever were. I had zero interest in any Mercedes before the W222 S Class. Didn't appeal to me personally at all. We went and looked at the W220 S Class to replace my Dad's 98 LS400 in 2004 and quite frankly...it was a joke compared to a 2004 LS430. Then you had the terrible reliability issues that came with the previous generation GLS/GL, nothing to be nostalgic about IMO. If you beat on interiors of those old Benzes too they absolutely will break. Just look at some of the ones people buy to restore on YouTube videos etc, full of broken interior parts.

Build quality has dramatically diminished in the industry as a whole as technology has become much more of a focus. Just lease cars, then you don't have to worry about how they age...cause none of them are going to age great...and they haven't aged great for a long time...20+ years.

 

I was selling BMW's and VW's in the late 80's. Mercedes was very easy to sell against at the time.
Fit and finish and the materials in MB weren't competitive. One month I sold three VW Cabriolets and one 3 series convertible to people who owned SL's and were thinking about their next car. We were proud to have a line of SL's on the front line of our used car lot. Of course the VW's were hand built at Karmann, so a little more care.

For some, all it took was a door slam, and for others the test drive made the sale.
The only head to head comparison that seemed close, was the 750 to 560, but the impression from door and trunk closing was just cheap in the Merc.

Regarding fasteners and clips that hold things together - those things increase the time to disassemble and recycle, and the metal bits pollute the waste stream. Recycling is a Priority in Europe, and much of the engineering is designed around the goal of 100% recycle-ability.

 

Saw this thread with a video posted on the forums a few minutes ago, https://mbworld.org/forums/glc-class...ml#post9250678

Keep in mind although this video is about MB dealerships, many other brands' dealership is like this as well. bmw has its own share of bad dealerships, MB as well, but forum members reported they have exceptional service with their own MB dealership. So, just remember not all dealerships are created equal.

However, I do believe the service and dealership experience is utmost important in the car ownership experience, when there are problems with a car, either software, hardware, you always want someone that is genuinely passionate and want to help. Yes there might be things that they truly "cannot duplicate" but they should not just brush you off by saying this without trying.

I just wish corporates can better regulate their brand's dealerships, not just MB but I am talking about the automotive industry as a whole. I understand corporate already regulates the brand image in terms of the style the building, the layout of the building. I wish corporate can also focus more on training as well? Here is another thread on this topic: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...-i-m-done.html

 

Am not sure why this needs to be debated, but plastic is fine to use and (has been) everywhere in all cars (older cars and newer cars now). Other than cabin leather and ride quality, It is usually the interior “finish” and “fit” that makes the cabin in Mbenz and other german vehicles so special. Plastic parts aren’t new; it’s just the excessive use of plastics or piano black instead of wood, or poor fitment and finish that can bother me.

As long as the fit and finish is great, I don’t care about what’s hidden under the dash or under the seat, or even exposed surfaces that I don’t often use/touch. Some reported that the physical buttons in my former W222 (same for my current GLS) are plastic that looks metal, but I don’t really care as long as the fit is great, they buttons click really nice, and they “feel” as nice as metal. I think Mbenz is still offering cabins with great fit and finish compared to non-german vehicles. I don’t miss older cars at all and I don’t think they all have better fit or finish. If anyone feels that way, they can grab a nice low mileage old Benz or BMW from Bring A Trailer.. They are everywhere; am just going to continue enjoying newer cars that in my view are still built better for my 1-5 year ownership period. I don’t want to pay the capital cost for someone else to still be able to enjoy the cabin in 20 years from now.

 

All I'm going to say before I move on from this topic - it is disappointing to buy a Mercedes Benz and realize that certain elements of the "quality" where the "quality" is on full display, is put together little better than a $20 remote controlled toy car from China. Switch gear that instead of being installed onto their seating surface, is just clicked in from behind with cheap plastic pieces that clearly can break with relative ease. Basically every control element on all of the doors, charging ports, ride height level switch, main infotainment pad, rear trunk switch in the driver's door, etc... Just cheap little plastic parts clicked in from behind, instead of set in from the front to insure toughness. Sorry folks, we can debate every car ever made since we were stealing mom's Victoria's Secret catalogs. But at the end of the day, if this is what the "Mercedes Benz" experience has now become, then back to my title to this thread - They're not at the top of my list anymore. Not saying they're worse than anyone else (although pretty clear I have my opinion on a few areas about that), but the whole "pay for quality" and "best or nothing" mantra, is DOA with me after this GLS (which is good, but not great in many key/core areas).

 

Mercedes is not last but certainly bottom tier:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...s-a6159221985/

BMW dropped to #2 after being #1 for prior consecutive years...

 

And they will plummet, since they just introduced a new, MODERN Infotainment system.
Aside from CR's abysmal rating process, the worst reviews for most makes (all?) is Infotainment. Not engine failure, not poor ride and handling - it's the silly radio!

How many people do we see on this forum who will never buy a Mercedes because the AA/Carplay isn't full screen? Bunches.

 

Exactly, and remember those 90s MBs had those wiring harnesses that literally completely disintegrated and basically totalled the car?

I think your expectations are just too high, and I don't think you will find a better experience with any other brand. You're remembering the good about the old MBs while ignoring the bad and focusing on the bad about a modern one while ignoring the good.

What are you going to buy that is cheaper than a GLS that delivers the same type of vehicle? You have to look past Ijust interior material quality and also into the chassis and suspension and powertrain. You mentioned a VW Atlas earlier, well even if it did have better interior materials or the same level, its also FWD based with macpherson strut suspension and a 4cyl engine, has none of what makes a GLS what a GLS is. You could go to a Tahoe...but you aren't really saving any money because they are just as expensive with similar equipment and you have a ponderous body on frame truck that doesn't drive as easily or as well. So...whats the option? Just don't beat on your console with your fist and you'll be fine

 

Quote: "put together little better than a $20 remote controlled toy car from China" --> So were you not able to notice all of that before you spend 100 grand on the car? It's weird to hate a brand that much but still spend that much to own one.
Also this is the very first complaint ever that I heard about the switch gear. In fact, it's one of those very unique things I really like about Mbenz cars.
As for plastic physical buttons, I do think (and I am serious) the GLS today has the VERY BEST physical buttons on the market today for any car below the 100K USD mark. Yeah, "some" of those physical buttons are probably made from plastic, but were you expecting Aluminum or Stainless?. Find me a single car today that offers true metal physical buttons, and let's not even keep the price at 100K, let's push it to 200K. You probably need to step up to a RollsRoyce or Bentley before you can find metal physical buttons. Oh my god, we should be grateful just because the physical buttons exist nowadays!

This is my 3rd GL/GLS SUV. My former GL were not as good in terms of interior/cabin quality. It's still not as good as an S-class, but it is so much better than the old days. My guess is that you were expecting a RR cabin quality. Is this your first Mbenz? You seem overly disappointed but I don't think your expectations were reasonable to begin with.

There is no doubt that Mbenz is NOT on the right track recently.

Me.... I will NOT buy another Benz unless it has a full-screen display and wireless CarPlay. I'm also hesitant about buying any Benz now that doesn't include the Digital Phone as Key feature. Technology can spoil you once you experience better tech, and Benz seems to be consistently 5-6 years behind in that area for their top models. The car would have to offer significantly more to compensate for falling behind in tech. When I got our GLS, it was right at the edge of that, and we still miss a lot of the tech that our X7 had.